Intergroup Threat Scale
Also known as: Integrated Threat Scale, Realistic and Symbolic Threat Scale, Perceived Threat Scale
The Intergroup Threat Scale operationalizes intergroup (originally integrated) threat theory (Stephan & Stephan), which holds that prejudice toward an out-group arises from perceived realistic threats (to the in-group's resources, power, or welfare) and symbolic threats (to its values, beliefs, and worldview). It is a self-report measure widely used to explain attitudes toward immigrants and other out-groups in political psychology.
Key highlights
- Separates realistic (resource) from symbolic (value) threat, clarifying the distinct roots of prejudice.
- Strong predictive validity for immigration and out-group policy attitudes across many countries.
- Grounded in a well-developed, frequently revised theory of intergroup threat.
- Adaptable to any out-group by tailoring item content, supporting comparative research.
Intuition
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
How it works
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
When to use it
Use the Intergroup Threat Scale to explain prejudice and exclusionary policy attitudes (toward immigrants, refugees, ethnic minorities, or other out-groups) as a function of perceived realistic and symbolic threat. It is appropriate for survey and experimental research on immigration attitudes, intergroup relations, and the psychology of backlash. Tailor items to the specific out-group, measure realistic and symbolic threat separately, and consider adding intergroup-anxiety and stereotype subscales from the revised theory.
Strengths & limitations
- Separates realistic (resource) from symbolic (value) threat, clarifying the distinct roots of prejudice.
- Strong predictive validity for immigration and out-group policy attitudes across many countries.
- Grounded in a well-developed, frequently revised theory of intergroup threat.
- Adaptable to any out-group by tailoring item content, supporting comparative research.
- Item wording is out-group-specific and must be carefully adapted and revalidated for each target.
- Realistic and symbolic threat are correlated, so discriminant validity must be demonstrated.
- Perceived threat is partly endogenous to prejudice, complicating causal interpretation in cross-sectional data.
- Self-report threat can be inflated by social and political context at the time of measurement.
Common pitfalls
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Applications
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Frequently asked
What is the difference between realistic and symbolic threat?
Realistic threat is the perception that an out-group endangers the in-group's tangible interests, jobs, economic resources, physical safety, or political power. Symbolic threat is the perception that the out-group endangers the in-group's intangible assets, its values, beliefs, worldview, and identity. The scale measures them separately because they have different antecedents and often respond to different interventions.
Which type of threat predicts prejudice more strongly?
It depends on context, but symbolic (value/identity) threat is frequently the stronger predictor of prejudice and exclusionary attitudes toward immigrants, especially where cultural difference is salient. Realistic (economic) threat matters more when material competition is salient, such as during economic downturns. Measuring both lets researchers determine which mechanism dominates in a given setting.
Is perceived threat a cause or a consequence of prejudice?
Both. Intergroup threat theory treats perceived threat as a cause of prejudice, and experiments manipulating threat support a causal effect. But prejudice can also lead people to perceive more threat, creating a reinforcing loop. Cross-sectional studies cannot disentangle the direction, so experimental or longitudinal designs are needed to establish threat as an exogenous driver.
Sources
- 1.Stephan, W. G., Ybarra, O., & Bachman, G. (1999). Prejudice toward immigrants. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29(11), 2221-2237.
- 2.Stephan, W. G., Ybarra, O., & Morrison, K. R. (2009). Intergroup threat theory. In T. D. Nelson (Ed.), Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination (pp. 43-59). New York: Psychology Press.ISBN 9780805859522
You have read it. What now?
Cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Intergroup Threat Scale. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/political-psychology/intergroup-threat-scale